Systems Maps
How to Transition Homes To Energy Efficiency
An experimental systems map of the barriers and pathways to change
[source: Climate Change Committee]
[source: Climate Change Committee]
To help bridge the gap between evidence and decision-making, IPPO has been thinking creatively about different ways in which information can be presented to be most effective. As the pandemic showed us, with its daily diet of dashboards, graphs, and infographics, eye-catching visualisations aren’t just important for getting across clear messaging. They also can be useful in understanding things that are complex, inter-linking, and contingent.
Over the course of the next 18 months, IPPO will be publishing experimental systems maps for some of the topics under of its key thematic areas. Above is the first such map, drawn as part of our work to support leaders and policymakers to meet their Net Zero goals. The map plots the issues, actors, and evidence around what we are calling Home Energy Change – that being the barriers and pathways to retro-fitting, installing heat pumps in domestic residences, and the attendant behavioural and other issues.
The map has two roles. Firstly, it is intended to be a tool for those working in this area – particularly policymakers – to understand the landscape of issues, current initiatives, and relevant evidence. Secondly, it seeks to allow stakeholders to identify topics where further synthesis work is required, especially in areas where evidence is currently lighter, but where there is potential for policy activity. This will then help IPPO, in collaboration with these stakeholders, commission further work such as a Rapid Evidence Review in a sub-area where it can be most useful.
The map sets out and links to key areas relating to Home Energy Change and Net Zero such as Economic Factors or Behaviour/Psychological Issues. These then feature a visualisation of relevant sub-issues, accompanied by a list of actors such as government departments, and external links to evidence divided into reviews or case studies. Current initiatives such as government policies are also listed, as well as potential negative or unintended consequences. The map is further accompanied by a “Review of Reviews” drafted by UCL’s EPPI Centre.
This is the first such map we have drawn and is by nature a work in progress. Our maps are intended to be live documents and will be refined and updated in consultation with stakeholders as activity progresses. We are therefore keen to receive feedback both on the way in which information is presented, as well as on the content of the map itself, so please do get in touch with your comments.